CFAES Give Today
SENR

School of Environment and Natural Resources

CFAES

ICS Lecture: Roger A. Williams

Jan 19, 2018, 4:00pm - 5:30pm

The Institute for Chinese Studies presents the Re-Imagining China's Past and Present Lecture Series:

"The Impact of China’s Timber Deficit on Forest Ecosystems and the Possible Solutions through Policies and Management"

Roger A. Williams
Associate Professor, Forest Ecosystem Analysis & Management
School of Environment and Natural Resources
The Ohio State University

Friday, January 19, 2018 - 4:00pm to 5:30pm

Mendenhall Lab 191 (125 S Oval Mall)

 

Abstract: As China’s economy has strengthened and living standards have risen, China’s demand for wood has grown substantially. Subsequently, China’s domestic wood supply falls far short in meeting this demand. To exacerbate this problem, China instituted its Natural Forest Protection Program this year, which bans all commercial logging of natural forests in an effort to allow forests to recover from decades of over-logging and to help restore forest ecosystems. In 2013, China launched the construction of the Strategic Timber Reserve Base which has a goal to expand planted forest area to 14 million ha by 2020. The vast areas of planted eucalyptus in south China have generated concerns regarding losses of biodiversity, soil and aquifers. In an effort to reduce the ecological footprint, China has recently acquired Forest Stewardship Council forestland certification for approximately 130,000 hectares in south China. The impact that China’s timber deficit has had on forest ecosystems and possible management solutions are discussed.

Bio: Dr. Williams is an Associate Professor in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, serving as a member of the Forestry Faculty and the Faculty in Chinese Studies, East Asian Studies Center. His most recent published work has focused on the management, ecology and biodiversity of eucalyptus forests and bird communities in south China. Dr. Williams served as Project Director on a project, funded by the U.S. State Department, to redevelop the Forest Economic sector in southwest Siberia after Perestroika. He was awarded the Golden Silk Ball Award from the Chinese government for his contributions to the society and economy in Guangxi. He served as Chairman of technical sessions in the Conference on Biodiversity and Ecosystems and the International Conference of Emerging Industries held in Suzhou and Shenzhen, China, respectively. Dr. Williams has served on the World Forestry Committee of the Society of American Foresters. 

 

Click here to visit the ICS page